Myanmar

Located in mainland Southeast Asia, Myanmar borders Bangladesh, India, China, Laos, and Thailand, with coastlines along the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. Naypyidaw is the capital, though Yangon remains the largest commercial city. Burmese is the official language, and the kyat (MMK) is the currency. The country's identity is shaped by Theravada Buddhism, a mosaic of over 130 ethnic groups, and a turbulent modern political history.

Many nationalities require a visa to enter Myanmar, available through the government's official e-Visa portal. Some ASEAN member nationals may enter with fewer restrictions. Entry requirements have shifted considerably in recent years due to political instability; travellers are advised to consult their national government's travel advisory and the Myanmar e-Visa system before making plans.

Bagan, on the arid central plains, holds over 2,000 surviving Buddhist temples and pagodas dating from the 9th to 13th centuries. Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, rising 98 metres and covered in gold leaf, is one of the most significant Buddhist sites in the world. Inle Lake in Shan State is known for its stilt villages and distinctive leg-rowing fishermen. Mandalay Hill offers panoramic views over the royal palace ruins and the Irrawaddy River plain.

Myanmar has a tropical monsoon climate with three broad seasons: a hot dry season from March to May, when temperatures can exceed 40 °C in the central lowlands; a monsoon season from June to October bringing heavy rainfall; and a cooler dry season from November to February, with temperatures ranging from 15–28 °C in most regions. The highland areas in the north and east are considerably cooler year-round. November through February is generally considered the most comfortable period for travel. Light layers are useful for highland evenings even in the dry season.

• Bagan contains more temples than Angkor Wat's complex.
• Myanmar uses its own unique calendar system dating from 638 CE.
• The country was known as Burma until its name changed in 1989.
• Thanaka paste worn on faces is a centuries-old skin tradition.
• Myanmar is one of Asia's largest jade-producing nations.

• evisa.moip.gov.mm — official Myanmar e-Visa application portal
• myanmar.travel — Ministry of Hotels and Tourism official site
• met.gov.mm — Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, weather information
• myanmarembassy.com — general consular and entry information reference